But the union needs new and experienced leadership during a transitionary phase that will see the Players Association add both a new president and a new executive director to the fold in the coming months.

Roger Mason Jr. announced his candidacy officially on Thursday, and despite the fact that he’s not exactly a household name from a basketball standpoint, he may be the most qualified man for the job.

Roger Mason Jr., presented his case for president of the National Basketball Players Association.

Experience – he’s been involved with NBPA for 10 years, most recently as a vice president on the executive committee.

Political ties – Mason said he is just as comfortable talking to NBA Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, who takes over for Stern on Feb. 1., as he is with stars such as LeBron James as he is with role players and bench warmers.

“What the NBPA needs is someone who is a representative of the majority of our players –somebody who understands where we’ve been, where we are now and where we need to go and I can humbly say that’s me,” Mason told USA TODAY Sports …

The reason Mason is a good choice, aside from the characteristics outlined above, is that he’s an under-the-radar player who doesn’t have commitments beyond those basic to being on an NBA roster. Unlike LeBron, he has the time to put into this, and has shown over the past decade that he’s willing to put that effort in to make the union successful.

Mason played in New Orleans last season, and is currently a free agent. He expects to sign somewhere before the season begins.

Skills on the court don’t mean a thing when it comes to the board room. Public image means nothing at the bargaining table. What you need is someone that will represent ALL the players in the NBA, not just the famous ones. One good example is Michael Jordan. He still can’t sell out that arena and he was the biggest star of all time in basketball.